Spaces of Encounter Within Low Socio-Economic Neighbourhoods: A qualitative case study on social encounters and loneliness in Bospolder-Tussendijken, Rotterdam

Abstract

Preliminary research shows that the physical environment plays an important role in how people feel. For example, it appears that feelings of loneliness are stronger among residents of low socio-economic neighbourhoods than in neighbourhoods where the socio-economic status is higher. This master thesis, therefore, looked at the degree to which spaces of encounter and the type of encounters that might take place within these spaces influence feelings of loneliness among adult residents. A qualitative case study by means of walkalong and face-to-face semi-structured interviews was carried out in combination with a mapping assignment within the Rotterdam neighbourhood of Bospolder-Tussendijken. This study has shown that the type of encounters that take place within the different spaces of encounter influence the feelings of loneliness among adult residents of low socio-economic neighbourhoods. However, the social environment of low socio-economic neighbourhoods also has a strong influence on the type of encounters. This is because certain social habits, power relations and the degree of social cohesion are present, which cause social exclusion within various spaces of encounter. Moreover, this has an impact on feelings of loneliness among residents because people cannot meet each other in the desired places and manners. However, personal characteristics seem to have more influence on feelings of loneliness than the spaces and types of encounters within low socio-economic neighbourhoods. And finally, it appears that micro-publics are often the places where people who feel lonely go to tackle these feelings. These micro-publics also turn out to play an important role in breaking the social habits that are rooted in the neighbourhood.